A New Chromosome Number and Karyotype in L. radiata

Abstract

CYTOLOGICAL investigations in several species of Lycoris have been carried out by a number of workers^1–8. The somatic chromosomes here are fairly large in size and few in number, reported to be between 12 and 33. Of these 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 22, 29 + 1 B, 30 and 33 have already been counted. In karyotype analysis the chromosomes could be classified broadly into V and rod-shaped types. No species have been found with all V chromosomes in their complement but those with 22 and 33 chromosomes have been observed to have rod chromosomes with subterminal constrictions only (L. haywardii, L. radiata, L. sanguinea and L. sprengeri). Among those with both V and rod chromosomes in their complement some have rods of the nearly terminal constrictions only (L. aurea, L. chinensis, L. ‘sperryi’ and L. traubii), others have rods with subterminal constrictions (L. albiflora and L. elsiae), still others have rods with subterminal and nearly terminal constrictions (L. caldwellii, L. squamigra, L. incarnata and L. houdyshelii). In L. chinensis one V chromosome was observed to be much shorter in size (designated small v) than the rest of V chromosomes8.